that be we didn’t have to deal with him ever again. Now I think about it, having him in common is what made us friends. I made the puzzle to remind us we were free of the old lecher.” She smiled.
Pippa said, “When did you make the puzzle, Mrs. Filly?”
“Ah, I made it shortly after he ended up in that urn on Lill’s mantel, not in the basement, where he belonged. She did it as a joke, I think, although she said it was a fitting place for him. She told me one of the visitors at the B&B asked her about the urn and she told a fine tale about how Major Trumbo was a big game hunter in Africa and he was gored by a rhinoceros.” She gave them a big smile, only to have it fall off her face. “Oh dear, she’s spotted you, Chief.”
Pippa looked up when the shop door opened and Freddie Sleeman burst in like she’d been shot from a cannon. She did not look happy.
Pippa had more questions for Mrs. Filly, and now this. Freddie Sleeman was all she needed. She forced a smile. “Hello, Ms. Sleeman. How are you this chilly morning?”
Freddie ignored her. “Wilde! What a surprise to see you here of all places.”
“Good morning, Freddie,” Wilde said.
Freddie turned to Pippa, sent her chin up. “What are you doing here? And with Chief Wilde? I thought you’d have left town by now.”
“Nope, still here and we’re puzzle shopping.”
“Puzzle shopping? That’s ridiculous.”
“Good morning, Freddie,” Mrs. Filly said. “How is your mother?”
“Mother? She’s like she always is, spends more time with the downtrodden than she does with her own family.” She turned back to Pippa. “Of course you know my name, everyone knows my name, but I don’t remember yours.”
Mrs. Filly tried, she really did. Pippa appreciated her effort. “And your dear brother? How are he and his sweet family?”
“Sweet? How very nice for us. So, what’s your name? And why are you here?”
“I’m Special Agent Pippa Cinelli, FBI.”
Freddie stared hard at her. “You, FBI? An agent? Are you joking?”
Wilde said, “No, she’s not, Freddie. Actually, Agent Cinelli grew up here in St. Lumis. Are you also here to look at puzzles? We were studying Major Trumbo’s puzzle.”
Freddie spared half a glance at Major Trumbo’s puzzle, shook her head. “That ridiculous old man was disgusting. I hate it that my dad has his puzzle in his study at home.”
Wilde said, “If you didn’t come to buy a puzzle, then why did you come in, Freddie?”
Freddie grabbed up a puzzle of Saint Patrick surrounded by snakes. “Anjolina has a birthday next week. This will do.”
“Anjolina’s too young for this puzzle, Freddie. It would give her nightmares. And isn’t her birthday in March?”
“Anjolina’s age is irrelevant. No puzzle in this store would frighten her. No, her birthday is next week. Gift wrap it, Mrs. Filly.”
Mrs. Filly took the puzzle. “Agent Cinelli, let me check how many Major Trumbo puzzles are left. I’ve remembered a couple more people, and I’ll make up a short list.” She turned on her heel and was through the door at the back of the shop fast, as if escaping.
Wilde said, “Freddie, have you seen any men around St. Lumis you didn’t recognize?”
“What is this all about?” She pointed a sharp fingernail at Pippa. “If you are an FBI agent, then why are you all over Chief Wilde? It’s unprofessional. And no, I haven’t seen any strange men. What does that have to do with Major Trumbo’s puzzle?”
This young woman, either a born pain in the butt or spoiled to death since the cradle, was the last thing Pippa needed. Pippa didn’t think she’d ever been considered a threat before. If not for everything being at a critical point, she might be amused. But not now.
Pippa said, “Of course you have lots of questions, Ms. Sleeman, but I don’t have time to answer them right now. Tell you what, would you entertain Chief Wilde while I speak to Mrs. Filly?” Pippa turned on her heel and walked toward the back of the shop.
Freddie yelled after her, “You won’t get Wilde, do you hear me? He’ll get tired of you really fast, and you’re not even pretty. That French braid of yours looks ratty, probably because you slept with him last night at his cottage, didn’t you? I know the truth, so don’t lie.”
That brought Pippa up short. She slowly turned back.
Wilde raised a dark brow. “And how do you know Agent